What does “moderation” even look like?

Moderation is a term that I’ve used quite a bit in my career. Some of you might even remember when I coined the phrase “making moderate cool”.

But what does moderation even look like?

For some of us, moderation might mean scaling back in your indulgences and being able to have just a taste of something rather than treating yourself to a few generous portions.

For others, moderation might be the total opposite of that – perhaps adding fries alongside some baked chicken breast and steamed broccoli, or letting yourself have some dessert rather than cutting off all sweets altogether.

When it comes to exercise, moderation might mean starting a training routine after a hiatus in which you’re working out 2-3 times a week. For others, it might mean scaling back from a demanding and intense program and only training 4-5 times a week instead of 6-7 days a week.

For me, moderation with my diet means having plenty of fruits and focusing on my protein intake, but also enjoying things like ramen, tea biscuits, Percy Pigs, and ice cream. I prefer smaller portions of these kinds of treats relatively frequently, whereas someone else may like having bigger servings less often. My training consists of 3-4 days of lifting each week (with my Lift with Sohee group training program) with no formal cardio other than enjoying leisurely walks with boyfriend and dogs.

No one except you can determine what moderation strategy works best for you. Moderation means finding a balance between things that nourish your body, finding ways to help you enjoy the way you eat and train, and having a healthy relationship with your food and exercise regimen.